Abstract
The Social Cash Transfer (SCT) was introduced in 2003 as a pilot programme to reduce extreme poverty and intergenerational poverty transfer, which had been deepened by the HIV/AIDS pandemic, leaving many households without a breadwinner, and increasing household poverty, particularly in rural areas. Since its inception, the programme has progressed to become Zambia's biggest social protection programme. However, few qualitative studies have been conducted to examine how female recipients, who make up the majority of SCT recipients, utilise the K300 cash transfer. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to explore the SCT's social and economic use. The study adopted an exploratory design within a qualitative approach and was guided by the Rights-Based and Sustainable Livelihoods approaches. Participants were recruited through purposive sampling. The sample included thirteen female recipients who had been recipients of the SCT for at least two years. The data was collected through telephonic interviews and analysed using thematic analysis. Findings of the study revealed that recipients used the money to meet their and their families’ basic needs as well as meet their children’s educational requirements. Recipients also used the money to pursue various income-generating activities such as selling vegetables and seafood. However, recipients aspired to pursue more ambitious activities but were unable to do so due to the limited amount of the grant. The study also found that, while the SCT assisted recipients in maintaining strong relationships with their relatives and friends, it created negative attitudes from the wider community. Furthermore, the study revealed that recipients of the SCT felt helpless and uniformed, given poor communication from government personnel responsible for disbursing the SCT. These findings indicate the need to modify the amount, combine the SCT with other empowerment programmes and improve communication and transparency from government.
Key words: Social protection, cash transfers, Social Cash Transfer, livelihood strategies, social inclusion, economic inclusion.